did somebody say "potholders"?

pattern: Motif #1 from Beyond the Square

I'm on a roll, and there's no stopping me. Check out some of the potholders I have been making! The single-layer ones are more like trivets because I feel like there's no way I could use something with holes to get a hot pan out of the oven. For the double-layer ones, I made motifs from books or magazines and then made a backing of the same size. I found that if I took pains to make sure that each layer ended with a round of the same number of stitches, it was super easy to crochet them together evenly. This first one (Motif #1) didn't lay evenly over the bottom layer, so I sort of sewed it to the bottom one around the middle, and now it won't budge! By the way, I love the book this one is from--Beyond the Square by Edie Eckman. It has 144 in motifs to crochet and is broken down into sections by shape: circles, hexagons, triangles, square (yes, there are some squares!), and other, more irregular shapes. There isn't a lot of real suggestion about how to actually put them together if you wanted to use more than one shape, so I created this flickr group to show off your motifs and share how you are putting them together. Please join! Other reasons to love the book: it is a spiral-bound hardback so it lays flat easily and all of the patterns are charted (of course they have normal written instructions, too!).

Made up this side.

pattern: "Granny Update" from Crochet Today 2010 Special Issue: All Time Best Blankets

Using an afghan pattern as inspiration for a potholder can provide instant gratification!

Made up this side.

pattern: Motif #24 from Beyond the Square

I love this color combination! I've been using this blue color (well, on the label it is called "baby green" but it totally looks more blue to me) like crazy and need to pick up some more.

Made up this side.

pattern: "Coaster Comeback" from Crochet Today January/February 2009

The pattern was for a coaster made from crochet thread, but using worsted weight yarn resulted in a larger, sturdier piece. There is that blue again.

pattern: "Coaster Comeback" from Crochet Today January/February 2009

pattern: "Woven Circles Trivet" from me!

I've made more of these! The rainbow one is my favorite!! Good news: if you can't find perfect soda can rings, you don't really have to bother. The end result is just slightly different if you crochet a chain foundation instead. I made my chain circles the diameter of the top of a soda can, and then I double crocheted over that and followed the pattern for the rest. Both of the ones shown here were made this way. If you make any, please share pictures! Christen1285 on Ravelry has made this cool version!

pattern: "Woven Circles Trivet" from me!